This WeekPoetic presidents, the first global primary, presidential polls and a guide to understanding them, Indonesia, arranged marriages, water rights for sale in California's agricultural valleys, and The World Innovation Foundation's plan to save the world.

Tip of the WeekHere comes Valentine's Day -- if you don't have any sweeties, give yourself a treat.

GovGab
This U.S. government blog, started in fall 2007, covers a wide range of topics related to government agencies: elections and voting, finance and investing, consumer topics, holidays, health and safety, and more. Provides links to relevant sources for federal government and other websites. From the Office of Citizen Services and Communications, U.S. General Services Administration.
URL: http://blog.usa.gov/roller/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25289

VoteFromAbroad.org
"From February 5 to 12, 2008, Democrats Abroad will hold a Democratic Global Presidential Primary by Internet, fax, mail and in-person at Voting Centers in 34 countries around the globe. This will be the first global primary ever." Includes instructions for voting and a FAQ. In English and Spanish. From Democrats Abroad, "the official Democratic Party organization for the millions of Americans living outside the United States."
URL: http://www.votefromabroad.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25306

People

The Legacy of George Washington Carver
This presentation celebrates "the legacy of [Iowa State University's] first African American student and faculty member, George Washington Carver [who was] renowned for developing innovative uses for a variety of agricultural crops such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes." Features a biography, images, bibliography, select correspondence of Carver, peanut uses and recipes from a 1925 publication, and other material about Carver and his agricultural research. From the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.
URL: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/gwc/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25317

Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Material about the celebration of Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, which "officially starts at Twelfth Night, which occurs 12 days after Christmas on January 6th" and runs through the Tuesday before Lent. Includes a parade schedule, a list of Mardi Gras events, background about Mardi Gras krewes, details about history and traditions, a glossary, and related travel and tourism information. From the official tourism site of the city of New Orleans.
URL: http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/mardigras/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25302

Imperial Irrigation District (IID)
This "community-owned utility provides irrigation water and electric power to the lower southeastern portion of California's desert." The site provides a history of this organization founded in 1911, and details about its current management and operations, including the All-American Canal. Millions of acre-feet of Colorado River water "[are] delivered annually through the All-American Canal to nine cities and 500,000 acres of agricultural lands throughout the Imperial Valley." Includes a map and images.
URL: http://www.iid.com
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/20948

Leo Politi Centennial
Website for the 2008 centennial celebration of the birth of California artist Leo Politi, known for writing and illustrating books about children in Southern California and Los Angeles neighborhoods such as Chinatown and around Olvera Street. His "Song of the Swallows" (about the swallows of San Juan Capistrano) won a Caldecott Medal in 1950. The site features a list of events with links to related sites.
URL: http://www.leopoliti2008centennial.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25088

Human Rights Watch: Indonesia
Human rights news about Indonesia where "continuing areas of concern ... include impunity for past human rights violations, the slow pace of military reform, conditions in Papua, [and] imposition of the death penalty." Features an overview of human rights issues, documents on East Timor, an article about how Suharto's 2008 death may provide "an opportunity to commemorate the many victims of his oppressive regime," and related material. From Human Rights Watch.
URL: http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=asia&c=indone
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25337

Shadow Play
Site covers Indonesia's modern struggle to become and remain a democracy. Provides an overview of contemporary Indonesia, historical information about General Suharto's 1965 coup and subsequent dictatorship, information about the current status of democratic politics, the role of western governments, and resources for learning more. Companion site to a 2002 PBS documentary of the same name.
URL: http://www.thirteen.org/shadowplay/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/13306

Science

The World Innovation Foundation (WIF)
Website for this mysterious British think tank that fosters scientific collaboration to address issues arising from population growth, climate change, pandemics, energy access and usage, poverty, water resources, and environmental concerns. Features newsletters back to 1997 (the most recent as of January 2008 is the March 2007 issue), and of list of Nobel Prize-winning members.
URL: http://www.thewif.org.uk/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25335